The  Invitation

by Oriah Mountain Dreamer

It doesn’t interest me what you do for a living.
I want to know what you ache for, and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart’s longing.

It doesn’t interest me how old you are.
I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love, for your dreams, for the adventure of being alive.

It doesn’t interest me what planets are squaring your moon.
I want to know if you have touched the center of your own sorrow, if you have been opened by life’s betrayals or have become shriveled and closed from fear of further pain!

I want to know if you can sit with pain, mine or your own, without moving to hide it or fade it or fix it.

I want to know if you can be with JOY, mine or your own; if you can dance with wildness and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes without cautioning us to be careful, be realistic, or to remember the limitations of being a human.

It doesn’t interest me if the story you’re telling me is true.
I want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to yourself; if you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not betray your own soul.

I want to know if you can be faithful and therefore be trustworthy.

I want to know if you can see beauty even when it is not pretty every day, and if you can source your life from Its presence.

I want to know if you can live failure, yours and mine, and still stand on the edge of a lake and shout to the silver of the full moon,”Yes!”

It doesn’t interest me to know where you live or how much money you have.
I want to know if you can get up after the night of grief and despair, weary and bruised to the bone, and do what needs to be done for the children.

It doesn’t interest me who you are, how you came to be here.
I want to know if you will stand in the center of the fire with me and not shrink back.

It doesn’t interest me where or what or with whom you have studied.
I want to know what sustains you from the inside when all else falls away.

I want to know if you can be alone with yourself, and if you truly like the company you keep in the empty moments.

May all beings uncover the truth beyond the matter.

Dear Sangha,
In 1947 India was in extreme crisis. Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs were
killing each other. Enforced mass migration was causing anger, fear,
and despair. The country was in chaos.
At the same time, Papaji sat in bliss at Ramana’s feet and at the feet
of the holy mountain Arunachala. One day, after reading in the
newspaper of the horror, Ramana asked Papaji about his family and the
dangers they were in as they were being forced to leave the Punjab and
relocate to Hindu governed Lucknow. Papaji responded, “That is all an
empty dream. I am here in the bliss of your grace.”
Ramana looked deeply at Papaji and said, “If it is all a dream, where
is the problem of taking care of your family? Go and help them.”
Papaji left that night for the Punjab. He was able to help get all his
family out in time. Just in time. He was on the last train allowed
out.
It is my view that politically our country is at an essential
crossroads. In my lifetime, there has never been an election as
important as the upcoming one.
I strongly invite you all to look deeply into your hearts and using
what you value most in your self and in all your relationships, choose
a candidate for President and vote. You may also be called to work for
Voter Registration or to help with voter turnout. I support you fully
in support of our precious democratic process.
Finally one discovers there is no difference between inside and
outside. Between form and emptiness. To cling to either is to miss the
whole.
In deep love and respect,
gangaji

Nice one.

May each of us let our votes reflect the expanse of our heart’s deepest longing.

We are currently in the midst of a rather major series of problems with the website. Kind of a surprise to all of us, but it’s good for our practice.

Hopefully things will be back to normal within the week.

Bows,

Michael

As far as I’m concerned, Wilber has had a significant impact on both the pedagogy and curricular content of what I do as a teacher. And while, like the rest of us, he has had his difficulties, I don’t feel it’s my place to offer any judgement about the man. I do think, however, that thoughtfully considering some aspects of the debate surrounding him will serve practitioners well.

Here are two points of interest:

First, a video critique offered by Frank Visser (thanks ~C4Chaos), then a follow-up by Sean Esbjorn-Hargens.

On CBS Sunday Morning, Green Gulch Farm was featured as a way to escape. Of course, if you’re really doing the practice, it’s not about escape, but about facing everything and avoiding nothing. (p.201)

Read the article here.

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Click here to read the full update.

Click here for the video clip